Lab tests, what do you think?

[crazyme5kids]

My friend came to me with a form for her husband to have lab work. She asked me about the stuff the Dr ordered. Most of the stuff looks like routine blood work, stuff to check for different things like iron, B12 etc... The part that has her flipping out is that the Dr also ordered a Chlamydia, Trachomatis and Gonorrhoeae test. Now I don't know........ I told her maybe it is just something his Dr automatically does.

Would those be something a Dr would test for, even if a man is not fooling around?

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I did a little reading on the subject to confirm...Chlamydia can lie dormant in a person for a long time, especially if it went untreated when the person was originally diagnosed.

Doctors do tests because they can't always assume a person is telling the truth from the history they give. If a patient has specific symptoms such as painful urination, enlarged testicles, or some sort of discharge, it's just a place to start to check for the presence of certain bacteria.

For your friend, I would assure her that the best way to get a direct answer is sometimes to ask a direct question.
Worrying about it is no way to live!

 

[disneysteve]

I diagnose guys with chylamydia often enough. Almost always, the guy has absolutely no symptoms at all. The reason we do the test is because they find out a partner had the disease and they want to be checked.

I don't routinely test guys, though it isn't such a bad idea.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm sure it's just standard based on symptoms. If it'll make your friend feel better, I doubt a husband would allow his wife to see the script if he was cheating and having medical issues because of it.

 

[crazyme5kids]

CEDmom herein lies part of the problem. The form came in an envelope addressed to him. She said she thought it was a bill so she opened it. He didn't leave it laying around for her to see. They've been married for 15 years, she hasn't had any other sexual partners, but now she's thinking maybe he has been cheating. I really didn't know what to say other than must be routine testing.

I have to say though, it does make me wonder. I guess I can understand the Chlamydia test , but why test for gonorrehea?

 

[brittsmum1998]

When I had my daughter 8 yrs ago my OB was complaining because he knew both me and DH and it is a law now (or was anyways) in our state that you HAD to have certain STD tests while pregnant. We had been married 8 yrs at the time and he thought it was a waste of money.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Maybe her husband decided to get tested just for the heck of it?

I know someone who, when the doctor fills out the form for their routine blook work, the doctor asks if they want those tests included. They say yes just because why not. With insurance it's included. Also my gyn asks every patient if they would like to be tested even if he has no reason to believe you are infected. I don't think it means anything.

 

[budbeerlady]

When I had my daughter 8 yrs ago my OB was complaining because he knew both me and DH and it is a law now (or was anyways) in our state that you HAD to have certain STD tests while pregnant. We had been married 8 yrs at the time and he thought it was a waste of money.

Same thing for us, we had to sit through an std class at the health department to get married. Never been anyone else for either of us, waste of my time!!!! And the tests were done again (required? or routine) when I had DD. Save the money!!!

I wouldnt jump to conclusions, I'm sure it is routine for this doc to cover all of his possiblilies before making a diagnosis.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I didn't even think about how they test when you're pregnant. Don't think it would have made a difference though, they had their last child about 9 years ago. She's was just flipping out that the Dr was testing for STD's.

Oh well, I hope she talks to her husband and doesn't sit around dwelling about it. I really don't want to have to discuss it again with her. I'm not a Dr and really didn't know what half the stuff on the form was. As far as I'm concerned it was all routine testing.

 

[pixiemomma]

It is pretty routine during ob/gyn visits to test for stds, even if you are low risk. I don't see why it should be any different for a man.

 

[maps]

I'll post a differing opinion. I can honestly say that I don't routinely test men for STDs unless they ask for it or I have a reason to test. This woman should just ask her husband. That's what I would do. I certainly would have asked my husband before confiding in a friend about it.

 

[Blondie]

If my DH were to suddenly be tested for STD's after 25 years of marriage, he'd have some serious explaining to do!

 

[Christine]

Ummmm....well, one year my DH was have some "tenderness" in the lower male privates (sorry). Nothing horrible, but a nuisance. He went to the doctor and asked about it. He had no other symptoms but a dull ache. They tested him for all those things too--came back negative--and they determined he had some type of epidimytis (sp?). It cleared up on it's own but they never really knew the cause. It happened about a year after he had a vasectomy. Who knows?

Anyway, maybe when the guy went to the doctor he had some "vague complaints" about that area and the doctor is just being sure.

 

[froglady]

If my DH were to suddenly be tested for STD's after 25 years of marriage, he'd have some serious explaining to do!

Same here, and if MY GYN (I'm past needing an OB) ever felt the need to test me, he'd still be in trouble!